The spread of immunization

•;Diseases;such;as;smallpox,;polio,;measles;and;mumps;caused;illness,
disability and death in millions of people.

•;Starting;in;the;1920s,;immunization;became;a;way;to;safely,;affordably
and effectively combat infectious diseases. By the 1960s, immunization
was widespread.

•;The;more;people;vaccinated;against;a;disease,;the;less;likely;the;disease
can spread and infect.

•;For;immunization;to;protect;a;community;nearly;everyone;in;the
community must be vaccinated.

•;When;not;enough;people;are;vaccinated,;both;those;with;good;and
with fragile health can become ill or die from a contagious disease.
greater immunization rates.

When you and your family are
immunized—when you wear the
armour—you help to protect your
extended family, friends, coworkers
and others in the community who
are vulnerable to diseases. Everyone
benefits. And our communities
become healthier, stronger.

Parent Stacey Clark sees her family
regular immunization as a “social
responsibility” to protect her family’s
health and the health of those most
likely to catch an infectious disease:
young children, the elderly and
people living with chronic illness.

This is especially true as flu season
approaches. “Particularly with flu,
once you get infected you can spread
it to others who can get infected and
be hospitalized,” Predy says. “If more
people were immunized, fewer people
would get sick or end up in hospital.”

Battling the threat of diseases

Disease is like a stealthy, stalking
enemy, always hidden in the shadows.

You may not see it, but it is still a
threat. This is why you always need
to be on guard and be outfitted in the
community armour.

Predy says that because many
younger parents have never seen,
heard about or experienced the
diseases being prevented with
vaccines, they already feel that they
and their children are safe.

“There is a perception that there is alack of risk of infection so to a degree,vaccines are a victim of their ownsuccesses,” he says. “Parents need tounderstand that while they may nothave seen a lot of these illnesses, theystill exist in other countries. We livein a global village and they could bebrought into Alberta.”It works the other way, too. When